And miles to go before I sleep

Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, had, towards his later years, kept a book close to him. It was even there at his bedside table as he lay dying. The book was of Robert Frost, and on on one page featuring the poem “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

The last 4 lines were underlined.

The poem means a lot to different people but the general version is about a person, who is staring at solitude or even Death which is comforting/peaceful which does not have social obligations, he knows his path is nearing an end, but that does not mean he can slow down. He needs to move on, and accomplish a lot before he says his final farewell.

This snap was clicked on the way to “Tambdi Surla” on a rainy day. The rains ensured the trees showcased their best color.

PM Nehru’s great poem was his attachment and love for his people and India. Rare are world leaders that will give attention to poetry up to their death bed. His appreciation of the simplicity but with the enormous message in Robert Frost “Stopping In the Woods. . . ” was nehru’s poetry to the world. Appreciation and simplicity. –joe lad santos

This poem has had an impact right through my school days..the words are simple and direct leads to reader right towards the beauty of deep green winter forest n the importance of obligations to fulfil ahead

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